As AC Milan prepare to face Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, watch highlights from when they took on the Catalan side in the group stage of the 2011 tournament.

The UEFA Champions League last-16 first leg encounter between AC Milan and Barcelona really is a match that is the crème de la crème of European football at it's very best.

The clash will pit Milan, who have lifted the famous trophy on seven previous occasions against the four-time winners and their talisman Lionel Messi at a sold-out San Siro Stadium.

In fact it could be a match befitting of the final itself at Wembley Stadium in May, but when the Rossoneri and Blaugrana go head-to-head on Wednesday night, it will no doubt spring a few memories of past encounters between the two giants.

In 1994, fans got a dream final of the flagship competition when Johan Cruyff's 'Dream Team' met Fabio Capello's Milan in Athens. The sides boasted players such as Paolo Maldini, Pep Guardiola, Romario, Hristo Stoichkov, Dejan Savicevic, Daniele Massaro, Marcel Desailly et al and it was the Serie A giants who were crowned European kings after a 4-0 demolition job.

Since that night, Barcelona would have to wait until 2006 for their shot at another final, and they haven't looked back since and have had the edge over their opponents.

Milan have failed to defeat their opponents in the past seven meetings, with Barca having claimed four victories in that time and twice knocking the Italians out of the Champions League.

It's becoming a bit of a regular match-up as this will be their fifth encounter in the last two seasons of the Champions League.

In 2011, Barca won a pulsating group stage match in Milan 3-2. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was on target against his old side for the hosts, but the magic of Messi and Xavi won a lung-busting clash in the end.

Look back on that encounter in our highlights video as Milan look to avoid another repeat on Wednesday evening.

Last season, the teams drew twice in the group stage before the Catalans claimed a 3-1 aggregate victory in the quarter-finals with the majestic Messi converting two first-half penalties.

Massimiliano Allegri's Milan are currently on a six-game unbeaten run, including four wins but they have only won one of their last 10 knockout games in the competition.

Meanwhile, Barcelona have only lost two of their last 24 games in Europe's elite competition and Messi is playing like a man possessed having scored both goals for Tito Vilanova's side over the weekend taking his season tally to 46 and 12 in his past nine games for his club.

He will look to add to his tally of 56 goals in 74 Champions League games on Wednesday in what should be another mouthwatering contest.